Part of this is for history that can possibly be used as lore and part is because I admittedly think that it's impossible for veterans to be appreciated too much.
- United States (Eagle Union) – Veterans Day (originally Armistice Day), November 11th – honoring military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces (that were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable) / Memorial Day (last Sunday in May, observed this year on May 31st) – honoring military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces
Following an address by President Woodrow Wilson on the first Armistice Day (the anniversary of the armistice ending World War I) in 1919, Congress adopted a resolution in 1926 requesting that the day be observed and Armistice Day was officially adopted as a national public holiday on May 13th, 1938. In 1945, World War II veteran and Birmingham, AL native Raymond Weeks led a delegation to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Allied supreme commander in Europe, proposing that the holiday be expanded to include all veterans, not just World War I veterans. On May 26th, 1954, Eisenhower, by then President, signed the bill into law that transformed Armistice Day into Veterans Day.
By contrast, Memorial Day has 25 different claimed origins according to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. The name was first used in 1882 but not made official by law until 1967.
- United Kingdom (Royal Navy) and most Commonwealth member nations – Remembrance Day (originally Armistice Day), November 11th – honoring armed forces members who have died in the line of duty
Originally began with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic" at Buckingham Palace on November 10th, 1919, the eve of the first Armistice Day. Also known as Poppy Day for the practice of wearing a remembrance poppy (that may be made of cotton or silk). The saying "at the 11th hour" originated from the fact that hostilities formally ceased "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918.
- Germany (Iron Blood) – Volkstrauertag (People's Day of Mourning), two Sundays before first day of Advent (this year, observed November 14th) – honoring members of the armed forces of all nations and civilians who died in armed conflicts including victims of violent oppression
Originally observed in 1922 in memory of German soldiers who died in World War I. The Nazis replaced this with Heldengedenktag (Day of Commemor
... keep reading on reddit ➡
What if the Belgian Revolution failed and the United Kingdom remained in the Netherlands, but King William was replaced by Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and gotha (Leopold i of Belgium) ??
